Though low temperatures have been dipping into the 30s and even the 20s, the local outlook for December to February shows equal chances for above- or below-normal temperatures and a likelihood of below-normal precipitation, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration outlook released Thursday.

"Probably the chances (for snow) are pretty low," said Jeff Linton, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in West Columbia, S.C.

However, that doesn't mean snow isn't possible.

"You could have below-normal precipitation, but we might be in a pattern that could be beneficial to snow," Mr. Linton said.

The past, however, makes him skeptical. After all, the main reason the area's yearly average snowfall is 1.4 inches is because of the 14 inches that fell in February 1973, Mr. Linton said.

"Most years are zero," he said.

Pam Knox, Georgia's assistant state climatologist, said we are in a "neutral" winter, which can increase the likelihood of snow.

"It is neither a La Nina year nor an El Nino year," she said. "When winters are neutral like this, we don't have unusually wet or dry conditions, but we do have more frost and cold outbreaks, which makes it more likely to have snow."

Mr. Linton said January 2002 was the last time the area received a good snowfall: a total of 4 inches. The 14 inches in 1973 is the record, with the area's second snowiest month, February 1914, bringing 10.5 inches, he said.

Columbia County Emergency Services Director Pam Tucker said her department has been gearing up for snowy or icy conditions. She said her office should be better prepared this year because the government has a contingency fuel site, more facilities and shelters have backup generators and the county has a fully operational Emergency Operations Center.

Barney Morris, of Grovetown, says he's glad to see the low temperatures.

"I'll tell you what I'm shooting for this year: a white Christmas," said Mr. Morris, who owns a snow-making machine that works best when lows are in the 20s and humidity is 10 percent.

On Saturday, with lows falling into the 20s, he was able to make enough snow to cover the lawn. He knows all too well how hard it is to get the right conditions for snow in Augusta.

"I only got to make snow one time last year," he said.

Reach Preston Sparks at (706) 823-3338 or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.